Roma probe free agents as Gasperini targets: Darmian contacts underway amid competition

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have set a club record of 28 goals after their first 10 Serie A matches, and the coach's influence is being felt in more than the table. Roma have also gone 17 league games unbeaten, a run that began seven months ago, and have scored with 14 different players. The article credits Gasperini's method, which has made a difference since last season, with improving both the collective behaviour of the team and the development of individual players, young and experienced alike. The clearest evidence of that work, the article argues, comes when Roma are under pressure. Several key players have been missing for weeks: Svilar, Koné and Dybala are all regular starters, and Pellegrini is also absent. Cristante has returned after three matches out and was a major presence at Udine. Despite the lack of players of real quality, Gasperini has kept his idea of football intact, and the team has not lost the identity that marks every match he prepares. At Udine, Gasperini made changes during the game to keep his 3-4-2-1 system without abandoning it. In the closing stages he pushed Ghilardi wide on the right, asking him to finish the match against Udinese as a winger, and moved Molina up into the attacking midfield role behind Castro and in line with Pisilli. Mancini came on for Soulé, taking Ghilardi's place in defence, and Ghilardi's move into midfield pushed Molina further forward. The attack was therefore reshaped from the starting line-up, which had Malen alongside Soulé and Mora. The second-half moves also raise the question of January reinforcements. Given the seriousness of Pellegrini's injury, added to the absence of the out-and-out striker who did not arrive in the summer, the article says Roma would benefit from two more attacking midfielders to give greater choice up front. Pisilli and Molina, a midfielder and a wide player, ended up in those positions at Udine. Gasperini is therefore expected to wait for two signings at the start of 2027. In the meantime, the article notes he has been creative in dealing with the emergency, as he did last year when he dropped Cristante into defence, and in pre-season he played Hermoso in midfield.

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to reporters before Udinese v Roma, a Serie A matchday 10 fixture at the Bluenergy Stadium, and said the club is not rushing its January transfer decisions. Asked about Endrick's prospects in the January window, D'Amico said it was difficult to think of names because the squad was short of numbers, adding: "Endrick is strong, but we are focused on what we have to do on the pitch. There will be time for the market." D'Amico also spoke about Mario Hermoso's contract. He said the club was happy with the whole squad, given the number of matches ahead and the need to widen the squad, and described Hermoso as important to the club, including during the week, and an example for the younger players. Asked about extending Hermoso's deal, D'Amico said: "We are happy to have him with us, and we will also talk about the renewal." He added that the club was also pleased with how the young players were being developed alongside Gasperini. On Paulo Dybala's fitness, D'Amico said the Argentine needed a few more days and that the club would assess him midweek. He admitted that losing an important resource during a busy run of games hurt, adding: "These things happen." Describing Udinese, he said: "Udinese are difficult to play against, physical, regardless of their league position. We need quality, and we think we can put in a good performance." Asked about comments from Massimiliano Allegri, D'Amico said: "We think about ourselves, we work hard, and the result is what you deserve on the pitch. Today will be difficult for us."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico says there is no hurry over the transfer market or Mario Hermoso's contract renewal, while Paulo Dybala needs a few more days and will be reassessed midweek. D'Amico spoke to Dazn before Roma's match against Udinese. D'Amico said it was a source of pride to see young players featuring for the team. Roma have plenty of matches to play, and as Gasperini says, it is important to widen the squad. The club has no immediate timeline on the Spaniard's future. Dybala's absence is a blow, as it leaves Roma one fewer option at a time when the fixtures are piling up. Roma play every three days, so the squad needs depth. On Hermoso, D'Amico said: "Mario is important on Sundays but also during the week, he is an example for the young players. We will talk about the renewal at the right moment." On Dybala, he said: "Today we face a strong and physical team. They are difficult to play against. We are convinced we will put in a good performance. Dybala needs a few more days, we will see midweek. It is a pity because we will be a player short, and there are a lot of matches." Asked about comments from Allegri, D'Amico said: "We are focused on ourselves. We think about working, and the final result of every championship is what a team deserves on the pitch. We think about ourselves." On reported interest in Endrick, he said: "Today it is hard to think about names. There is a long way to go. Endrick is strong, but we are focused on what we have to do on the pitch. We play every three days, there will be time."

Roma's loan players had a busy week across the Champions League, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, La Liga, Serie C and the Europa Conference League. Neil El Aynaoui was involved in three matches for RB Leipzig, while Luigi Cherubini was back in the Benevento starting line-up and came close to scoring twice. Robinio Vaz has returned to action after a physical problem he suffered against Fulham, and Mohamed Seck helped Foggia to a win. El Aynaoui, a Moroccan midfielder on a loan deal with a buy option, started Leipzig's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, a 4-1 loss, and played until the 63rd minute. On Saturday he played the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 win over Elversberg. His most eventful match came on Tuesday against Rot-Weiss Essen in the German Cup last 16. He began on the bench, but came on at half-time with Leipzig trailing 1-0 and reduced to ten men after Seiwald was sent off in the 44th minute. Baumgartner scored twice, in the 78th and 82nd minutes, to complete the comeback and send Leipzig through 2-1. El Aynaoui was booked in the 76th minute and played 45 minutes without a goal or assist. The win came after heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Cherubini, a winger born in 2004, returned to the starting line-up on Saturday in a 3-0 win at Arezzo. He played 74 minutes and twice came close to scoring, first with a spectacular scissor kick that was saved by goalkeeper Nunziante, then with a shot that hit the post. He started again on Tuesday in a 1-1 home draw with Catanzaro. He won the decisive penalty early in the second half, which Salvemini converted in the 51st minute after Candela fouled him, a decision confirmed by VAR. He was substituted for Saio in the 86th minute. Buso equalised for Catanzaro in added time, in the 92nd minute. Cherubini did not score or assist, but BeneventoNews24 and CalcioBenevento both gave him a 6.5. Mattia Mannini, a midfielder born in 2006, was an unused substitute for both matches, with Floro Flores opting for other players during the second-half changes. Mannini had played for Italy's Under-20 side during the previous international break. Mohamed Seck started at centre-back in Auteri's three-man defence as Foggia beat Cavese 1-0 at the Zaccheria, ending two straight defeats to Potenza and Giugliano. Foggiacalciomania gave him a 6 for a solid performance, noting his willingness to move forward from the defensive line. Goalkeeper Saro saved a penalty from Orlando, and Ravasio scored the winner in the 87th minute. Federico Nardin, a defender born in 2007, started for Pescara in a 2-1 win at Perugia, playing all 90 minutes without a booking. Merola scored twice for Pescara, first from open play and then from a penalty, after Carriero had given Perugia a lead inside the first minute. Radoslaw Zelezny, the Polish goalkeeper for Perugia, played the full match but conceded both Pescara goals, with Merola scoring in the 47th and 51st minutes. Marash Kumbulla, an Albanian defender on loan with a buy option, started for Rayo Vallecano in a 3-2 extra-time win over Recreativo Huelva in the first round of the Copa del Rey. He played 80 minutes after being on the bench for the 3-0 home defeat to Elche. Alemão scored Rayo's equaliser from the penalty spot and then the winner in extra time, with De Frutos also scoring. Anass Salah-Eddine, a Moroccan left-back playing for Panathinaikos, was not used in the 5-1 Conference League win over Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Thursday. He started on Sunday in a 1-0 league win at Volos.

Robinio Vaz's injury scare has eased, with the Roma loanee back in training after tests ruled out significant damage, while Neil El Aynaoui endured a bruising week in Europe and Bundesliga. Vaz, on loan at Hull City, came on in the 68th minute of their Premier League trip to Fulham, a 1-0 defeat decided by a goal from Iwobi. In stoppage time, at the 94th minute, he was hit hard by Ryan Sessegnon in the Achilles area. Sessegnon was sent off with a straight red card, and Vaz had to leave the pitch accompanied by medical staff. Initial impressions were worrying, but the subsequent checks were far more reassuring: the MRI scan showed no significant injury and Vaz returned to training on Tuesday 20 October. He recorded no goals or assists in the minutes he played against Fulham. Whether he will be available for the next game against Brentford remains to be confirmed. El Aynaoui, on loan at RB Leipzig, played three matches in a few days with mixed results. Leipzig beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to a goal from Gruda, and El Aynaoui started and played the full 90 minutes. The Moroccan midfielder then started the Bundesliga trip to Bayern Munich, who thrashed Leipzig 6-1. He stayed on the pitch from start to finish but could not turn the game, which Bayern dominated. On 21 October Leipzig suffered another European defeat, losing 4-1 at the Bernabéu to Real Madrid. El Aynaoui again started alongside Seiwald but was replaced in the 63rd minute by Rocco Reitz, with Leipzig already two goals down. He recorded no goals or assists across the three matches, but he logged significant minutes that confirm his place in Demichelis's rotation. The heavy defeats to Bayern and Real Madrid left the team with a very negative overall record. Anass Salah-Eddine, on loan at Panathinaikos, is showing encouraging signs as the Moroccan wing-back fights for a place in the Greek side. He was not in the squad for the 2-1 win over Borac Banja Luka in the first matchday of the Conference League League Phase on 15 October. Three days later he started and played all 90 minutes of a comprehensive 5-1 league win over Asteras Tripolis. In the 47th minute he surged down the left flank and delivered a precise ball to Taborda, whose header was cleared off the line by Papakanellos. It was a good move that could have brought an assist but did not appear on the scoresheet. Salah-Eddine recorded no goal, official assist or card, but gave positive indications of his ability to support the attack. Panathinaikos return to Conference League action today against Kairat Almaty. Filippo Reale continues his good form at Carrarese, where he is increasingly picked by Guido Pagliuca. The centre-back, born in 2006, started and played the full 90 minutes in Carrarese's 2-1 home win over Modena, with goals from Abiuso and Rubino before Belotti replied for the visitors. He helped protect the lead in the closing stages as part of the back three. The most unusual moment came in the 96th minute, when Reale embarked on a long run from his own half, covered the entire left flank and shot into the box, only to send his diagonal effort wide. Carrarese have now won consecutive matches. Radoslaw Zelezny was also impressive for Perugia, starting in their 5-1 win at Campobasso. He played the entire game and conceded only Stoppa's equaliser in the 35th minute, before Perugia pulled clear in the second half. He was not held responsible for the goal, and SportPerugia gave him a 6 for his precise handling and his lack of blame. Marco Litti came off the bench for Lecco in their 5-0 win over Pro Vercelli, replacing Manetti in the 59th minute, when Manetti had scored the goal that made it 3-0. Litti took up position on the flank and helped manage the lead over the final half hour. He recorded no goal, assist or booking. Mohamed Seck, meanwhile, remains in a difficult spell with Foggia, who lost 3-1 at Giugliano in the Monday 19 October fixture. Seck was named in the back three by Gaetano Auteri and played the full game. Ravasio gave Foggia the lead in the 16th minute, but Baldé and De Rosa turned the match around before the break, and Esposito added the final goal after the restart. Seck was booked in the 21st minute. Foggia have conceded six goals in their last two league games. Luigi Cherubini, on loan at Benevento, was on the bench for their 2-2 home draw with Vicenza, having scored against Cesena. He came on for Lamesta in the 65th minute, with Benevento ahead 2-0 through Siatounis and Kouan. In the second half Benevento gradually lost control and were pegged back by goals from Corazza and Caferri.

Roma's loanees made their mark during the international break, with Mohamed Seck delivering a commanding defensive display, Luigi Cherubini scoring for Italy's Under-21s, and Neil El Aynaoui clocking over 240 minutes for Morocco across three matches. Seck, a 2007-born defender, started the full 90 minutes in Foggia's 2-0 victory at Cosenza, keeping a clean sheet and earning praise from local media. The Corriere della Calabria awarded him 6.5, while Foggiacalciomania highlighted an almost flawless performance. He picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute but remained unaffected. Radoslaw Zelezny continued his fine form between the sticks for Perugia, playing all 90 minutes in a 3-1 derby win over Gubbio; he conceded little that was preventable and earned a 6.5 rating for his security in possession and distribution. Federico Nardin also impressed at Pescara, completing the full match in a 1-0 win at Livorno achieved by a late Sardo goal, and has now been called up to Italy's Under-19 squad for friendlies against Scotland on 10 and 13 October. Cherubini made the most impact during the break. After coming off the bench in the 79th minute of Italy U21's 1-0 win in Armenia, he was introduced again at the same stage against Poland on 4 October and scored just seven minutes later to seal a 6-2 victory and confirm Italy's direct qualification to the Under-21 European Championship final tournament. El Aynaoui started all three of Morocco's matches—a 2-0 win over Gabon (90 minutes), a 2-0 victory against Lesotho (67 minutes), and a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October (full 90)—demonstrating his standing with the national team. Anass Salah-Eddine also featured for Morocco, starting the full 90 minutes at left-back in the Mali friendly. Marash Kumbulla entered Albania's 3-0 Nations League win over San Marino at half-time and played the full second half. Artem Dovbyk, on loan at Bologna, skipped his Ukraine convocation to continue recovering from a muscular problem affecting his hamstring and has already resumed full training with the Bolognese squad ahead of the league's resumption.